Do you have a yen for lamb vindaloo, vegetable korma, or baingan bartha? Are you too busy working and driving the kids to activities? Do you just feel like eating at home tonight? Log onto www.heresdinner.com and with a few clicks you can order your dinner delivered when and where you want it.##M:[more]##
The idea began with Rishi Shah, a graduate of WW-P High School, Class of 1992.
Born in Calcutta, India, he moved to Charter Club in West Windsor in 1986 and his parents now live on Dey Farm Road in West Windsor. His father, Govid Shah, owns a medical transcription company. His mother, Sucheta Shah. owns her own company in New York. His sister, Shannon Sha, 29, is an attorney in New York with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, and Feld. His wife Preeti Shah owns Spotlight Style, a wedding event management company.
After graduation from Columbia University with a degree in biomedical engineering in 1996, he worked in the dotcom industry as a consultant for several years. “The idea for the food delivery business came out of the pain of commuting by train to New York for five years.” says Shah.
While working on a dual master’s program at University of Pennsylvania and Wharton in engineering and marketing, Shah developed a business plan for Here’s Dinner.
Close to a year ago, he did a consumer research study by sending postcards to residents in Plainsboro, West Windsor, and Princeton. According to Shah, “71 percent would actually spend more money per meal if they had more delivery choices.”
The participating restaurants include Kalluri Corner, Mehek, Passage from India, Bombay Delite, Sunny Garden, and New Happy City. While the restaurants do not offer their own delivery system, the restaurants send people online to the ordering system at heresdinner.com.
“We leave marketing materials with restaurants and patrons are receiving a business card on the way out,” says Shah. “It’s a great way to get into the customer’s mind.
Most dinner ordering has been done via computer although phone orders are an option. At this time only dinner is available although Shah may look into a corporate interface for lunchtime.
The price is all inclusive and tipping is discouraged. The uniformed delivery staff is equipped with hot and cold travel bins to maintain quality and food temperature.
Shah lives in West New York and his partner, Frank Sikernitsky, a former Pfizer consultant in New York City, lives near him. The first two weeks they did the deliveries themselves. With phones and laptop computers, they are all connected to each other, drivers, and the restaurants.
“These restaurant provide what they’ve always provided — great food,” says Shah. He and his partner provide the delivery, which can be ordered at www.heresdinner.com or by phone: 609-945-5310.
